Compactor

ABSTRACT

A hand controlled compactor ( 1 ) for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprises a base plate ( 2 ), carrying both a rotatable, out of balance mass ( 5 ) and a motor or engine ( 6 ), with a drive connected to the mass ( 5 ) to impart vibrations to the base plate ( 2 ), an operator&#39;s handle ( 22 ) also being provided, the motor or engine ( 6 ) being attached to the base ( 2 ) plate via a plurality of anti-vibration, shock-absorbing mountings ( 9 ). Another aspect provides for the operator&#39;s handle ( 22 ) to be attached to the compactor ( 1 ) via anti-vibration bushes ( 29 ) housed in a closed eye ( 28 ).

This Application claims the benefit of British Application Serial No. 0715013.9 filed Aug. 2, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a manually controlled compactor for the compaction of ground work, earth work, landfill, paving etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Manually controlled compactors are known comprising basically an internal combustion engine to drive an eccentric to create the necessary vibrations with the engine attached to a base plate for the transmission of those vibrations to the base plate and thereafter to the earth work etc, with an operator's handle adapted to manoeuvre the compactor as required. It follows that vibrations are transmitted back from the base plate through the engine to the operator's handle and with a view to avoiding or reducing the propensity for an operator to suffer HAVS, rubber hand grips are conventionally provided on the operator's handle.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

A basic object of the invention is the provision of an improved compactor for paving etc.

SUMMARY OF A FIRST ASPECT OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand controlled compactor for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprising:

-   (i) a base plate having an underside adapted to engage the ground     etc and to transmit compacting vibrations to the ground etc; -   (ii) a rotatable, out of balance mass mounted on an upper side of     the base plate; -   (iii) a motor or engine attached to the base plate with a drive     connected to the mass to impart vibrations to the base plate; and -   (iv) an operator's handle characterised in that the motor or engine     is attached to the base plate via a plurality of anti-vibration,     shock-absorbing mountings.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

The imposition of such mountings between the motor/engine and the base plate as a means of attaching these two components together substantially reduces the vibrations transmitted back from the base plate through the motor/engine to the operator's handle.

PREFERRED OF OPTIONAL FEATURES

Each mounting is wholly or principally of rubber.

Each mounting consists of an anti-vibration, shock-absorbing bush.

Each bush is cylindrical, and is adapted to be fitted on an upright axis.

Each bush has at least one embedded metallic threaded insert to receive the stem of a securing bolt.

Two discrete, coaxial inserts are provided e.g. by moulding in or into each mounting.

The motor is attached to the base plate via a mounting plate.

The drive connection is a belt or chain.

SUMMARY OF A SECOND ASPECT OF THE INVENTION

According to a second aspect of the invention, of independent significance, there is provided a hand controlled compactor for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprising:

-   (i) a base plate having an underside adapted to engage the ground     etc and to transmit compacting vibrations to the ground etc; -   (ii) a rotatable, out of balance mass mounted on an upper side of     the base plate; -   (iii) a motor or engine attached to the base plate with a drive     connected to the mass to impart vibrations to the base plate; and -   (iii) an operator's handle which carries manually operable control     means; characterised in that the handle has a portion extending     transversely into an anti-vibration bush housed in a closed eye in     each of a pair of side arms of the compactor.

The pair of side arms are attached to the mounting plate and extended upwardly and rearwardly therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One example of compactor in accordance with two aspects of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manually controlled compactor in accordance with the two aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a base plate of a compactor of FIG. 1 fitted with an engine mounting plate;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is and end elevation of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view through an anti-vibration or shock-absorbing mounting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A hand controlled compactor 1, for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprises a base plate 2—typically having a working area of 400 mm×320 mm—provided with an underside 3 adapted to engage the ground etc and to transmit compacting vibrations to the ground, and for this purpose carrying, on a front end of an upper side 4 of the base plate 2 a rotatable, out of balance mass 5.

A petrol (gasoline) engine 6—typically 2.4 HP, single cylinder, four stroke—is also attached to the rear end of the upper side 4 of the base plate 2, with an output shaft (not shown) carrying a drive pulley (not shown) of a belt drive which is shielded by a cover 7 to a driven pulley (not shown) attached to the out of balance mass 5 whereby, when rotated, the mass 5 imparts vibrations to the base plate 2, the mass 5 having a generally rectangular mounting plate (not shown) attached by four bolts (not shown) to mountings 8 carried by the upper side 4 of the base plate 2.

In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the engine 6 is attached to the base plate 2 via a plurality of anti-vibration, shock absorbing mountings 9.

In the example of compactor 1 illustrated in the drawings, four mountings 9 are shown, each being wholly or principally of rubber and consisting of an anti-vibration, shock absorbing bush 10 of cylindrical form and adapted to be fitted on an upright axis. As detailed in FIG. 7 each bush 10 is provided with two metallic inserts 11, each having a coaxial thread 12.

Each mounting 9 seats at one end on a bridge 13 welded to the upper side 4 of the base plate 2, with a bolt 14, with a spring washer 15, screwed via a hole in each bridge 13 into the lower insert 11, whilst a motor mounting plate 16 is provided With four slotted holes 17 (FIG. 6) for the passage of bolts 18, each with a spring washer 19, and a shock absorber washer 20, to screw into the upper inserts 11 of each mounting 9. The motor mounting plate 16 is also provided with slots 21 to receive engine mounting bolts (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, an operator's handle 22 (of a readily dismantleable, easy fold construction for ease of storage and transportation) extends upwardly and rearwardly from the rear of the compactor 1, approximately to waist height of an operator. The handle 22 comprises a first U-shaped frame 23 to which is attached, by four screw knobs 24, a second U-shaped frame 25, having a handgrip covered in a shock absorbing foam or rubber sleeve 26.

In accordance with the second aspect of the invention a pair of side arms 27 extend upwardly and rearwardly from the motor mounting plate 16, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each side arm 27 terminates at an upper end in a closed eye 28, into each of which eyes 28 is bonded an anti-vibration, shock absorbing bush 29 having coaxial, metal ferrules 30.

Each side arm 27 also carries a mounting plate 31 provided with a rubber stop 32, the handle 22 being provided with a transverse tube 33 engaging the ferrules 30 and seating on the stops 32. 

1. A hand controlled compactor for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprising: (i) a base plate having an underside adapted to engage the ground etc and to transmit compacting vibrations to the ground etc; (ii) a rotatable, out of balance mass mounted on an upper side of said base plate; (iii) a motor or engine attached to said base plate with a drive connected to said mass to impart vibrations to said base plate; and (iii) an operator's handle, characterised in that said motor or engine is attached to said base plate via a plurality of anti-vibration, shock-absorbing mountings.
 2. A compactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said mountings is wholly or principally of rubber.
 3. A compactor as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said mountings consists of an anti-vibration or shock-absorbing bush.
 4. A compactor as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said bush is cylindrical, and is adapted to be fitted on an upright axis.
 5. A compactor as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said bush has at least one embedded metallic threaded insert to receive a stem of a securing bolt.
 6. A compactor as claimed in claim 5, wherein two discrete, coaxial inserts are provided in each said bush.
 7. A compactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said motor or engine is attached to said base plate via a mounting plate.
 8. A compactor as claimed claim 1, wherein said drive connection is a belt or chain.
 9. A hand controlled compactor for the compaction of ground work, paving etc comprising: (i) a base plate having an underside adapted to engage the ground etc and to transmit compacting vibrations to the ground etc; (ii) a rotatable, out of balance mass mounted on an upper side of said base plate; (iii) a motor or engine attached to said base plate with a drive connected to said mass to impart vibrations to said base plate; and (iii) an operator's handle, characterised in that an anti-vibration bush is housed in a closed eye in each of a pair of side arms of said compactor, and said operator's handle includes a portion extending transversely into said bushes.
 10. A compactor as claimed in claim 9, wherein said motor or engine is attached to a mounting plate, and said pair of side arms are also attached to said mounting plate and extended upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. 